Compare towns
Hampton vs Canterbury vs Meredith vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampton | Canterbury | Meredith | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,353Lowest |
6,758 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Canterbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Shaker Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.